For City Council Meeting and Rialto Utility Authority [November 27, 2018]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Ahmad R. Ansari, Interim City Administrator
FROM: Thomas J. Crowley, P.E., Utilities Manager
Title
Request City Council Approve Resolution No. 7431 Adopting the Sanitary Sewer Management Plan (SSMP) As Updated in October 2018.
Body
BACKGROUND:
In 2006, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) approved Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ, making the Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) a requirement for all public agencies that own or operate a sanitary sewer system comprised of more than one mile of pipes or sewer lines which convey wastewater to a publicly owned treatment facility. This Order requires owners of sewage collection systems to update the SSMP every five years and perform a self-audit every two years.
The objective of the SSMP is to eliminate the occurrence of preventable Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs). Public agencies are required to develop and implement a written program that improves the effectiveness and sustainability of existing sewer systems in order to prevent SSOs. SSOs are overflows from sanitary sewer systems of domestic wastewater, as well as industrial and commercial wastewater. SSOs often contain high levels of suspended solids, pathogenic organisms, toxic pollutants, nutrients, oxygen-demanding organic compounds, oil and grease and other pollutants. SSOs may pollute surface or ground waters, threaten public health, adversely affect aquatic life, and impair the recreational use and aesthetic enjoyment of surface waters.
The City of Rialto (City) owns and operates over 250 miles of sewer mainline and is obligated to comply with the permitting requirements as directed by the SWRCB. The City’s sewer collection system meets the criteria requiring compliance with this Order.
On September 22, 2009, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 5757 approving the City’s SSMP and on June 10, 2014, the City Council adopted Resolution 6575, adopting an updated SSMP.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
The proposed SSMP, included as Exhibit A to the Resolution, is an updated SSMP triggered by several changes as listed on Change Log, included as Attachment 1. Among the changes listed is the proposed addition of the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RAT). The SL-RAT technology uses a series of sounds sent down a sewer pipe through a manhole and picked up by a microphone in the next manhole. The modifications of the sound as it travels through the pipe can be interpreted to detect the size and type of obstructions in the pipe. The technology works for pipe of any material and diameters ranging from 6” to 12”. The pipe does not need to be de-watered for the assessment.
Earlier this year, Rialto Water Services (RWS)/Veolia tested SL-RAT in Rialto, a copy of the Case Study is included as Attachment 2. RWS/Veolia found that crews can assess 35% more pipes using SL-RAT than jet-clean in any given time period. However, most of the savings are realized through minimizing the use of expensive cleaning equipment requiring a lot of fuel and labor. During the test period, only 7% of the pipes assessed with SL-RAT required follow-up with conventional cleaning equipment.
Mostly due to the savings in fuel, labor, and wear of cleaning equipment, RWS/Veolia determined that the $27,000 initial investment in the SL-RAT equipment will pay back after 2.5 years. Not counted in this calculation was the longer life of sewer pipes that will be achieved by less frequent cleaning or those where cleaning is not required. RWS/Veolia does not expect the City to share the cost of the SL-RAT equipment.
There will be some reduction of labor. However, it is expected be less than 35% because many of the assessed pipes will also have to be cleaned by conventional means after being assessed with SL-RAT. In addition, RWS/Veolia proposes to re-assign labor to accelerate work on the manhole inspection program. If there are any unexpected labor savings, they will be captured in the next Labor Reset scheduled for late 2019.
RWS/Veolia’s obligations for sewer maintenance are spelled out in Schedule A.9 of the Concession Agreement. The language in Schedule A.9 is broad enough to allow the use of SL-RAT. However, the goals (miles/year) for pipe cleaning and the reporting of activities in monthly and annual reports need to be changed. The current goal for pipe cleaning will become the goal for pipe assessment using SL-RAT. The revised goal for cleaning will be set at 7% of the current goal. The goal for Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) inspections will remain unchanged.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Approval of the SSMP is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
This action is consistent with Guiding Principle 3A in the General Plan:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the staff report
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
The approval of the SSMP is an administrative action and not expected to have an impact on operating costs.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There is no Capital Improvement Budget impact with the proposed action.
Licensing
There is no business license requirement with the proposed action.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council Approve a Resolution Adopting the Sanitary Sewer Management Plan (SSMP) as Updated in October 2018.